Health and global change in an interconnected world - Concerns and responsibilities for Switzerland

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Health and global change in an interconnected world - Concerns and responsibilities for Switzerland

This factsheet of the Swiss Academies highlights the principal drivers of global change, placing particular emphasis on associated health impacts.

Relevant issues for Switzerland include local health impacts due to climate change, vulnerability to (re-)emerging infectious diseases, in-migrant health and overseas health impacts. Interdisciplinary research and cross-sector action are needed to mitigate adverse health impacts and adapt to global change.

Current anthropogenic pressures on the biosphere are historically unprecedented. These complex and far-reaching changes are disrupting many of the Earth’s systems, cycles and feedback mechanisms, leading to adverse impacts and threatening the foundations of human health and well-being.

The role of Swiss-based multinational companies engaged in commodity trading as well as the extractive, pharmaceutical and food industries warrant particular attention towards promoting sustainable and equitable practices.

This factsheet of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences was written in the context of the project “Global change and developing countries: why should we care?” managed by the KFPE and the Forum for Climate and Global Change (ProClim-).